The Ionia County Youth Advisory Council (YAC) has been chosen by the Detroit Pistons as a Come Together Game Changers Grant Challenge recipient for project Drive to Survive (D2S).

Through this initiative, YAC has gained national attention. Car crashes are the No. 1 killer of teens in America. The students have raised awareness for teen driver safety through presentations in schools, conferences, public service announcements, billboards and marketing materials.

Chosen as a recipient, YAC was invited to attend the Pistons vs. Pacers game and watch warm-up courtside on Dec. 15. Not only were they given tickets to the game, but Greg Monroe, Pistons center, donated his personal section for the group of 65 people to sit in and gave them T-shirts.

YAC students will be receiving $1,000 to continue their efforts in making a difference in their communities through D2S. The group is also being recognized under the community section on the Detroit Pistons' Website as Game Changers at www.nba.com/pistons/game-changers.

YAC consists of students from several local high schools, including Ionia, Belding, Saranac, Lakewood, Portland and Lowell. The main reason they continue to develop their project is they do not want anyone else they know to become another statistic. They have one focus guiding their efforts: to save a life.

To learn more about YAC, their efforts and the D2S initiative visit www.ioniacountyyac.org and check out the links to their Facebook pages.